Process of preparing soles.



R. E. BARTELS.

PROCESS OF PREPARING SOLES.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. I917.

1,2311 52 Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

fil 1.

InveW/ZO 7". R.Z.Bw7-tebs sra'rn'r on rnocnss or rnErAnmG soLEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed April 11, 1917. Serial Ho. 161,128.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, REINHARD E. Banners, acitizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Processes of Preparing Soles, of which the following 1sa specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and has for itsobject to provide certain improvements in the manipulation and treatmentof the sole prior to its attachment to the partially formed shoe, inconsequence of which a better fitting shoe may be secured.

In the manufacture of a shoe, after the sole has been cut from theleather, it is subjected to several operations; that is, it ischanneled, and then, when in temper,,it is molded so as to approximatethe shape of the bottom of the last and to approximate the shape whichit is intended to have in the shoe itself. After the molding operation,the channel flap line of stitches which attach the sole to the shoe maybe passed through the channel.

. It is customary with many kinds of footwear to provide the sole with asole stiffener, that is, a strip of relatively unyielding material whichextends forwardly from the heel to a point approximately under the ballof the foot. This stiffener is usually assembled with the soleimmediately prior to the attachment of the sole to the welt or to theupper. It frequently happens that the stiffener, in the manipulation. ofthe parts, becomes misplaced and it more frequently happens that theshape of the stifi'ener does not accurately conform to the shape of themolded sole. For the various operations incident to opening the channelflap and the like, it is necessary that the sole should be wet ormoistened, and consequently, although a sole may be perfectly shaped bythe molding operation, the subsequent dampening of the sole and themanipulations to which the sole is subjected, all have the effect ofdistorting the sole and causing it to assume a flattened condition.

The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties which haveheretofore been experienced in molding and preserving the shape of thesole and in insuring the proper location of the shank stiffener.

In accordance with my invention, I employ as a shank stifi'ener anymaterial which is raised in order that the is capable of being molded,such for example as ductile metal, 6. 6. sheet iron, compressed fiber,or the like. After the sole has been shaped and its under face channeledin the ordinary way, and while the sole is flat, I secure thereto theshank stiffener in the location that is desirable. The sole, with itsattached shank stiffener, is then subjected to a molding operation as aresult of which both the sole and the shank stiffener are simultaneouslymolded into proper shape. For this purpose, I find it convenient toemploy metallic molds capable of exerting sufficient pressure to give tothe shank stiffener the desired curvature both longitudinally andtransversely. After a sole and a shankstiflener have thus been molded,they both preserve their molded shape notwithstanding the manipulationsto which the sole subsequently may be subjected.

Referring to the drawings,-

Figure 1 illustrates a shaped sole.

Fig. 2 represents the same after it has been subjected to a groovingoperation; that Is, after it has been subjected to an operation by whicha shallow groove adequate to receive the shank stiffener has been formedin the shank of the sole.

Fig. 3 illustrates the sole with the shank secured in place.

4 shows the shank stifiener detached.

Fig. 5 shows in section two m'olds, the sole and the shank stiffenerduring the operation of molding.

Fig. 6 illustrates in longitudinal section the molded sole.

Fig. 7 represents a cross section through the shank on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6.

I have selected for illustration a solo a which at its rear endterminates short of the extremity of the heel; that is to 'say,

its rear end 6 is straight, so that what I may term a heel extension maybe secured thereto. The sole is channeled on its under face asordinarily, although I have not illustrated the channel. skived as at cfor the attachment of the sole extension d which may likewise be skivedat e. By means of a suitable grooving machine, I form in the shank andpartway into the ball of the sole a shallow groove f in which the shankstifi'ener may be located and secured by fastenings h. After the shankstiffener has been secured in lace, the sole is then molded as ordinar'y by The rear end may then be' metal molds indicated at i and j. Theressure of the mold is suficient, not ony to mold the sole to thedesired form, hat also to impart to the stifi'ener g the desired shape.After the molding operation is completed, it will he observed that theshank stifienerg is not only curved longitudinally as shown in Fig. 6,but is also curved transversely as shown in Fig. 7, so that the sole andstiffener will accurately coniorm to the bottom of the last on which theshoe is .tobe formed. Inasmuch as the sole is grooved to receive thestiffener, 1 thereby eliminate any projection or hum .on the under sideof the shank :01" the so e in the finished shoe.

After thesole has been molded into proper shape, the heel extension dmay be secured to a sole by staples or other suitable fasteners. 61?course it will be understood that the invention is not limited to aprocess of molding an incomplete sole, as a sole of sufficient length toextend between the entremities of a shoe may he molded in accordancewith the present invention. Pref- .erably the shank piece isof suchlengththat its front end extends to the break is in the sole, as shown:both in Figs. 5 and 6.

'Ilhe advantagesof my method of forming shoe soles will be readilyappreciated by those skilled in the art, and it is hardlynecessary toadvent thereto. I may, however, call attention to the fact that, bysimultaneously molding both the shank stificner and might callattention, is that I secure for each shoe an exact conformation of thesole and the shank piece, and I also insure the location of the shank inits true position and prevent any shifting or dislocation thereof.

After the sole has been once molded, it may be subsequently dampened topermit the turning of the channel without causing any distortion of themolded sole, since the shank piece holds it firmly in the shape to whichit has been molded.

Having 'thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of making and using thesame, without attempting :to set forth allofthe forms in which it may be madeor all of the modes of its use, What Iclaim is:

1. The herein described process which consists of assemhlinga sole and amoldable shank stiffener and .then simultaneously molding lthe sole andshank stiifener to the desired shape prierto their being assembled theshoe.

2. The herein described process which consists in first longitudinallygrooving a shoe sole, then inserting and securing a shank stifi'ener ofmoldable material in the groove, and finally by pressure molding the.sole and shankstiiienerto the desired curva- :ture.

'3. The herein described process which conmsts first in shaping andchanneling a sole, then attaching to the upper face of the sole amoldahie shank stiffener, then simultaneously ahy premure molding thesole and shank stifi'eneri-toithe desired shape, and then turning :backthe channel flap.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signatnne.

REINHA'RD BARTELS.

